“You are welcome.”
Cavin sat in silence in the driver’s seat for a few moments mulling over the conversation he just shared with Keaton.Last night he wouldn’t have guessed in a million years that the man was Noel’s brother and Laney’s dad.It also came as a surprise that Noel’s husband was dead.Someone at their age should never have to know what being a widow felt like.He couldn’t even begin to fathom what that could do to a person.He also couldn’t help but wonder why Keaton didn’t want to reveal what happened to Noel’s husband.
Cavin felt a pit in his stomach as he considered his options.He felt like he owed Noel an apology—a different apology than the one given yesterday.Of course he couldn’t have known that she would associate the comment about her being cute while mad to her deceased husband, yet Cavin’s thoughts still recoiled from the emotional blow.
Only one good option came to mind, Cavin thought as he drove toward the candy store hoping to see the doors still open for the day.Then another thought entered his head, and he quickly punched a phrase into his GPS and took a detour.He nearly forgot about this idea during the busy day filled with so much adventure.The errand took longer than expected, but eventually, when Cavin rolled past Beaufort Candy Company looking closely for an open sign or interior lights, he noticed that the kid’s hot chocolate stand no longer sat in front of the shop.He prayed Georgia didn’t find a way to shut them down.
Even from the street, Cavin saw the Christmas lights glowing from the inside, and the window displays still looked elegant at this distance.At first this seemed to answer his question, but then he wondered if Noel left the place lit up at night during the holidays.
Once parked in the prime real estate lot, Cavin scurried to the entrance having no idea what he was going to say if and when he came face to face with Noel.The large box in his hands would be an obstruction, and he never expected it to be so enormous and oddly shaped.It reminded him of one of those boxes that an outdoor basketball goal came packaged in at the sporting goods stores.Thankfully the weight of these contents paled in comparison.
Cavin held the box awkwardly in one hand while using his knee to help balance it as the door handle gave way, and suddenly chocolate, Small Business Saturday shoppers, and Mrs.Madelyn’s curious face surrounded him.
“Let me help you with the door,” a random customer offered.
Another person asked if Cavin needed help carrying the package.
“No, thank you, it is far less heavy than it looks,” he replied surveying the store for Noel.
A moment later Levi and Laney came running in his direction with excitement flooding their faces.“What is in that huge box?”Levi asked, emphasizing the wordhuge.
“Is it a Christmas present?”Laney wondered.
Levi’s eyes bulged.“It won’t fit under the tree.”
As Levi’s tree remark caused all of them to glance at the enormous Eastern Red Cedar at the back of the store, the kitchen door suddenly swung open, and Noel walked out from where Cavin left her standing this morning.
Upon spotting Cavin, Noel stopped dead in her tracks.Not just because he held an oversized box, but because she never expected to see him again.After taking a moment to gather herself, Noel walked toward her children and the man everyone watched cautiously maneuver through the aisles wondering what he might knock over.
Cavin carefully managed not to break anything as he toted the cardboard box toward the rear of the store.He wasn’t sure why he headed in that direction other than it being the last place he saw Noel, and upon stepping inside the candy shop, he failed to notice her anywhere else.
With his eyes locked on Noel’s, Cavin realized he never responded to the kids.“I must admit this box is not quite as exciting as it may seem, but hopefully you all will find the contents useful,” he said to all three of them.
“Thank you,” Noel offered when she reached Cavin.
Cavin’s brow furrowed.“You do not even know what is in the box,” he proclaimed with a grin.
“Yes, I do,” she replied confidently.“Because I brought a box exactly like that in through the back door earlier today.”
“We have two of these?”Laney spouted like a water fountain suddenly pressed to the max.
“The other box has already been broken down,” Noel revealed.“That’s where your gallon jugs came from.”
So she did know what was inside, and now Cavin understood how.“I am sorry; I had no idea you already got some.”
“That’s okay, it means just as much,” Noel promised.“Follow me, I’ll show you where to put it.”
The four of them paraded through the store and into the kitchen where Noel made a spot for the oversized cardboard box.The kids wanted to open it, so Noel and Cavin let them.
“Wow, that’s so cool,” Levi said as he examined the twenty jugs pressed against each other inside the dark box.
“Was there that many in the other box, Aunt Noel?”
Cavin let out a silent sigh—now Laney decided to call Noel her aunt.
“Yep,” Noel answered.
“Let’s go tell Mrs.Madelyn what Kevin brought,” Levi suggested.
